Barron Hilton, son of the international hotel chain's founder, said Wednesday that he will donate nearly all of his fortune to his family's philanthropic foundation that supports housing for the homeless, safe water in developing countries and other causes worldwide.

Barron Hilton, 80, plans to donate to the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation a total of nearly $2.3 billion at his death, including $1.2 billion in proceeds from two recent corporate deals and 97% of his other $1.1 billion in assets. Hilton said in a statement that his father, Conrad, left 97% of his wealth to the foundation, "and I am proud to follow my father's example."

He couldn't be reached for further comment. But his publicist, Patrick Barry, said Barron Hilton will distribute to his heirs the remaining 3% of his personal estate. Hilton has eight children and numerous grandchildren, including granddaughter Paris Hilton, 26, a tabloid celebrity known for provocative photos, a reality TV show and a jail stint this year stemming from driving violations.

Barron Hilton's philanthropic gifts were announced as part of his estate planning, Barry said. The contributions will include $900 million in proceeds from the November sale of Beverly Hills, Calif.-based Hilton Hotels to The Blackstone Group and $300 million of stock he holds in Harrah's Entertainment, whose sale to private equity investors is pending. The proceeds are being placed in a trust and will be donated when Hilton dies.

Stacy Palmer, editor of The Chronicle of Philanthropy, noted that Hilton's gift represents one of the largest philanthropic contributions announced this year. "It's a huge amount of money," she said.

Palmer said Hilton's contribution is probably exceeded this year by only two other billionaires who passed away recently: Helen Walton, wife of Wal-Mart founder Sam Walton, and New York hotel tycoon Leona Helmsley.

Barron Hilton's contributions will dramatically expand the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, which currently has about $1.1 billion in assets.

Based on asset size, the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation is the 61st-largest U.S. foundation, according to the latest rankings by the Foundation Center, an organization that links philanthropic organizations and grant seekers. But it is not among the 100 largest foundations ranked by total giving, according to the center.

Conrad Hilton bought his first hotel in 1919 and sought to expand his chain globally.

He established the foundation in 1944. The foundation's mission statement says it "seeks to alleviate the suffering of the world's most disadvantaged, with a special emphasis on children and … the work of the Roman Catholic Sisters."

Program areas include water and sanitation projects in developing countries, services for the blind, housing for the mentally ill homeless, early childhood development and substance-abuse prevention.

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Barron Hilton announced that he plans to donate 97% of his fortune to charity, leaving Paris, left, Nicky and their fellow heirs with 3% of $2.3 billion.

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